Children's Behavioral Health

We offer a variety of services for parents seeking better behavioral health for children and adolescents

Resiliency for Appalachia- Youth Overcoming Trauma

The RAPP project is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is a category III network member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. The primary goal of the RAPP project is to bring evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment to the children of Southern West Virginia. RAPP is a collaboration between FMRS Health Systems, Inc.; Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center; and Seneca Health Services, Inc. Therapists across the three comprehensive agencies are trained in evidence-based treatment models to better serve our region. RAPP is working to change how all child serving agencies approach children and families by facilitating trauma informed care training throughout the region.

For more information about RAPP or to schedule a Trauma Informed Care training please contact the RAPP Project Coordinator, Leah Kidd at 304-256-7100; lkidd@fmrs.org

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

PCIT is a type of family therapy used to help improve family relations. It is an evidenced-based treatment model with highly specified, step-by-step, live-coached sessions with both the parent/caregiver and the child. It is targeted towards families with children ages 3-7, but can be modified for children as old as 10. The goals of treatment are improvement in the quality of the parent-child relationship, a decrease in child disruptive behavior problems with an increase in prosocial behaviors, an increase in parenting skills including positive discipline, and a decrease in parenting stress.

Trauma Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is a type of therapy used to help children and adolescents who have suffered a traumatic life experience. It is an evidence-based treatment model targeted to treat children and adolescents ages 3-21. TF-CBT has the strongest research evidence of any treatment model for traumatized children. (NCTSN 2014) Key components of TF-CBT include use of gradual exposure, education about child trauma and trauma reminders, parent skills education, relaxation skills for youth and parent, affective modulation and cognitive coping skills, trauma narrative processing and enhancement of safety skills. A traumatic grief component is also offered. Goals of treatment include a decrease in child behavior problems related to post traumatic stress such as depression, anxiety and anger, while increasing the youth and family's ability to cope with stress.

Adolescent Substance Abuse Services

Outpatient treatment is a good option for those whose substance use is just beginning or for those youth returning home from more intensive treatment. This allows the young person to remain at home, while receiving individual and supportive group sessions; teaching healthy coping strategies to deal with the pressures of young adulthood. Adolescents (14 years and older) may seek treatment for substance use disorders without parental permission.

SMART Recovery groups for adolescents (14 – 18) are available at the Regional Youth Service Center – RAFT. SMART Recovery also provides support for family and caregivers at no additional cost. To find out more about how to attend a SMART Recovery group or if you want to know how to refer a teen to substance use treatment, please contact LaShanda Spence, MA, MSW at 304-256-7100.

Children's Mobile Crisis Response

The FMRS Children’s Mobile Crisis Response team helps helps youth who are experiencing emotional or behavioral crisis by interrupting the immediate crisis and assisting youth and their families in becoming safe and supported. Crisis specialists and a parent support specialist provide support and teach skills necessary to return youth and families to routine functioning; maintaining children in their home or current living situation, school and community whenever possible.

Children that demonstrate behaviors that are unmanageable at home, school, or in the community.

Children that are at risk of placement, or are currently placed in an acute setting and cannot return home without extra support services.

Children must be living in Raleigh County, WV. (Children living in Fayette and Summers Counties will also be considered.)

How do I get the Children’s Mobile Crisis Response Team to help?

Call the Children’s Mobile Crisis Response Team (CMCRT) before the crisis occurs.

Members of the team will be glad to meet with you and your family to discuss concerns and assist with crisis planning. Just call 304-256-7100 and ask to speak with a member of the Children’s Mobile Crisis Response Team. A team member will schedule a time to meet to discuss services available at your convenience.

What happens if I call the Children’s Mobile Response Team for help? A Crisis Specialist will gather information about what is happening, including where the crisis is occurring and who is involved. An initial determination will be made regarding safety and level of crisis response necessary. When appropriate, a team will be dispatched to meet the youth in the community in order to de-escalate the situation and support the caregivers involved. Assessment, intervention, skills training and crisis planning will occur on scene.

Help is just a phone call away:

Call 304-256-7100 and remember to ask to speak with a member of the Children’s Mobile Crisis Response Team

Children's Wraparound Services

"Wraparound” is a process that is designed to help groups of people involved in a family’s life, work together to support the family and their child who is returning from, or at risk of being sent to, an out-of-home placement in order to receive services. “Wraparound” is based on the belief that youth make progress when family and community are involved in their care and treatment. The process is used to support families by bringing a group of people together as a team for planning and delivering supportive services that build on family strengths, and address critical unmet needs to accomplish the outcome of keeping families together.

The youth considered for the program must be in parental custody and living in Raleigh County (surrounding counties will be considered); are between the ages 0 to 21(with priority given to youth between the ages of 5-12 and 17-21); have a diagnosis of a severe emotional or behavioral disturbance, that impacts their daily function; are currently in or at risk of placement in an acute psychiatric hospital or and out-of-state psychiatric residential treatment program; and could be served in the community successfully and safely with extra support.

To participate in the Wraparound Program, families must voluntarily agree to receive services in their home and community. For more information about applying for Wraparound please contact The Children’s Wraparound Facilitator at 304-256-7100.

School-based Mental Health

The Expanded School Mental Health program is a collaborative effort between FMRS Health Systems, Inc. and Raleigh County Schools, designed to address the emotional and behavioral difficulties that negatively impact school performance, grade point average, and the development of healthy relationships with other students and school authority figures; and optimize overall student health and well-being. The program is housed within Beckley Elementary and Stratton Elementary schools and is designed to operate throughout the regular school year.

Expanded School Mental Health is for all students!

Tier 1 services are preventative education for all students. School staff and a FMRS service coordinator work together with students to develop healthy coping strategies, learn bully prevention skills and healthy expression of feelings.

Tier 2 services are for students at risk and positive peer role models. Students meet in small groups to learn about relevant topics such as violence prevention, anxiety management, etc. Integrates crisis services with interventions the school provides to students who may be struggling.

Tier 3 services are intensive services for children needing individual/family therapy. Students may be referred by a teacher, counselor or family member. Requires parental permission and completion of an FMRS intake which can all take place conveniently at the school.

For more information contact your child’s school and ask to speak with the FMRS School Based Service Coordinator.

Outside of school hours call FMRS at 304-256-7100 and ask to speak with the School Based Service Coordinator.

Regional Youth Services

The Resources for Adolescent and Family Transformation (RAFT) Center, is the Regional Youth Service Center for Region 6. The center is a collaboration between FMRS Health Systems, Seneca Mental Health, and Southern Highlands Community Mental Health. The goal of coordinating an array of outpatient services for youth with co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions.

The RAFT Center is located in Beckley and serves eleven counties in the region including Pocahontas, Webster, Nicholas, Greenbrier, Fayette, Summers, Monroe, Wyoming, Mercer, McDowell and Raleigh.

The mission of the Regional Youth Service Center is to decrease the stigma associated with “getting help.” The RAFT Center is a welcoming environment where youth and families can find support and are able to seek services in a more relaxed setting.

The goal of the RAFT Center is to become a hub of excellence supporting professionals that serve the youth and families of Region 6.

For more information or to request a trainer please contact: RYSC Coordinator: Amy Thomas, MS at athomas@fmrs.org

Parent Peer Support

FMRS provides a Parent Peer Support Specialist to help children and families navigate services and ensure they receive the most appropriate level of care. Parent peer support is typically used when a family has multiple needs due to caring for a child with severe behavioral or developmental problems. The Parent Peer Support Specialist can assist the child and their family in navigating complex systems by providing advocacy and linkage/referral to community resources. The Parent Peer Support Specialist facilitates parent support groups and meets one on one with families throughout the region.

Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI)

Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) is a nationally recognized, professional training and certification program sponsored by the Life Space Crisis Intervention Institute of Hagerstown, Maryland.

LSCI is an advanced, interactive therapeutic strategy for turning crisis situations into learning opportunities for children and youth with chronic patterns of self-defeating behaviors. LSCI views problems or stressful incidents as opportunities for learning, growth, insight, and change.

This non-physical intervention program uses a multi-theoretical approach to behavior management and problem solving. LSCI provides staff a roadmap through conflict to desired outcomes using crisis as an opportunity to teach and create positive relationships with youth.

LSCI is provided to all FMRS employees working with youth and families. Trainings are available 1 to 2 x each year and are open to partnering agencies. For more information contact the Director of Children’s Services at tking@fmrs.org

The LSCI manual is available online through PRO.ED publishers. For details on requirements for this certification program, go to the Life Space Crisis intervention website: